Category: WRC

News and commentary premier rally series in the world, the World Rally Championship.

Ford M-Sport Says Farewell To Petter Solberg

Mike Shaw

As fellow Norwegian Mads Østberg prepares for his first year in a works seat, Petter Solberg and co-driver Chris Patterson bid the top level of rally farewell….at least for now.  Whatever you call Solberg’s absence he insists that you don’t call it a retirement.  Interestingly in a phone call with Jari-Matti Latvala a week ago Petter mentioned that if the WRC didn’t work out for 2013 that he might go the route of Rallycross.  If that is the case then the question ends up being, does Petter do the European Rallycross Championship?…

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Episode 166 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Kevin, Mike, and Mike close out the 2012 racing season with a review of the final Formula 1 grand prix of the year, the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. The trio also lead us through the crazy silly season happening in the WRC, a bit of IndyCar news about Detroit and Conquest’s potential return, and a couple items on the MRTI silly season. Mr. Shaw also reminds us that while the 2012 racing season is finally over, Rallye…

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M-Sport Officially Partners with Qatar for 2013

Mike Shaw

As was speculated a few weeks ago, M-Sport has now officially partnered with Qatar and Nasser Al-Attiyah to create the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team.  We could know by the end of the day who will be the drivers of this new team, in addition to Nasser Al-Attiyah.       From M-Sport Press Release: M-Sport are pleased to announce a new partnership with Qatar for the 2013 edition of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) which will see the Cumbria firm run three Qatari liveried Ford Fiesta RS WRCs under…

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OpenPaddock Podcast – Episode 165

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock Podcast, we have a packed show and a full house! Mike, Doug, and Kevin are joined by our new Rally reporter Mike Shaw and friend of the show John Olsakovsky. We begin with analysis from Mike Shaw on Petter Solberg’s future in rally and the sad sorry state of M-Sport. Whitesell and Patterson get excited about the addition of GT3 cars in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge, for our money, some of the absolute best sports car racing to…

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What happened to Petter Solberg and where will he go now?

Mike Shaw

The 2012 season opened with high hopes for Petter Solberg.  After three seasons running a private team when Subaru dropped out of the WRC, Petter vowed last year to never run a private team again.  Petter was finding it difficult as a private owner to have the time required to work with sponsors, manage the team, and still test setups and study the stages to remain at the top level of the WRC.  Additionally, he had frustrations with his Citroen developed car not getting equal treatment as a paying customer as…

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Episode 163 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadShaun makes his last appearence on OpenPaddock Live before being shipped out to Qatar to pound sand and watch MotoGP racing. Joining Shaun are Mike (as always), Doug, and the new Shaun, Kevin Neely. On the docket this week: Rally WRC – the future of M-Sport. Will Nasser Al-Attiyah’s Qatar money be the team’s saving grace? WRC – Sistemas Integrales de Telecomunicacion (SIT) slated to take over timing duties for 2013. Kubica will drive the WRC Citroen C4 in two rallies this month. Back…

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Rally – Could M-Sport be saved by Qatar?

Mike Shaw

You might remember rumors back in August that Qatari native Nasser Al-Attiyah was planning to buy the 8 times manufacturer championship title holder Citroen World Rally Team. Nasser has already competing this season in a Citroen prepared DS3 under the Qatar World Rally Team banner which gave some weight to the rumor. However Citroen Team Principal, Yves Matton politely laughed such an idea. As with many rumors though, there is often a grain of truth. Maybe Nasser wasn’t going to buy Citroen, but maybe he was putting out feelers with…

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Episode 162 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadKevin Neely joins Shaun and Doug for the first time as they discuss the sad sick world of IndyCar politics and the soap opera that has unfolded over the past few weeks. The boys also welcome 2012 SCCA Rallycross National Champion Brianne Corn to discuss her beginnings in motorsport, her transition from photographer to racer, and her exploits in rally, rallycross, and racing motorcycles up Pikes Peak. Talk about sketchy!! Shaun and Doug also review the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix and preview this…

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Episode 161 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Shaun and Doug welcome special guest Sage Karam, driver of the #88 Comfort Revolution Star Mazda car for Andretti Autosport this past season. He speaks to us about how he became connected with the Andretti’s, how his 2012 season went, and his recent testing of a Firestone Indy Lights car. Sage also talks about how important it is for him to lead a normal teenage life in a public school in spite of his full-time racing career. Doug…

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Episode 160 — OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIf you missed it last night on ETV Live!, we had the honor of speaking with the newly signed pilot of the #9 Firestone Indy Lights racing machine for Belardi Auto Racing, Mr. Peter Dempsey. Peter shared with us his experiences struggling to find a stable ride through the end of 2011 with Andretti Autosport, racing and coaching in 2012 at Indianapolis and Detroit this past season with Younessi Racing, and ending the 2012 season with Belardi. We also asked him to do some…

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